By Maya Bryant
Spring is often associated with rebirth, the bringing of new life after the quiet of winter. Although, I can’t help but find myself continuing to think about the ending, or death, of things. Just less than two weeks have passed since Synod Assembly ended – an event which synod staff work tirelessly for months on – and in just a blink of an eye, we’re moving on to the next one, no doubt a daunting task with the bishop’s election also at hand.
My brother just finished his junior year at the University of Minnesota Duluth. He’s got one year left before he graduates with a degree in History. He’ll be the first man on my father’s side of the family to graduate from college. He arrived home on May 1.
“Like spring, though, I find myself somewhere in between.”
His arrival sparked a grief in me that I did not immediately understand. It was only after I sat with it for a while that I noticed why I had these feelings; the pandemic took a lot of things from many people. One of the things it took from me was a college graduation. I never got a cap and gown, I never got to walk across the stage. I never even got to say goodbye to some of my best friends, as I went to an out-of-state college. The end of some of the best moments of my life were gone in less than 48 hours.
But, I had to move on. I had to pick myself up and figure out how to finish my degree from home. I had to find a job that did not put me in potential harm’s way as COVID was spreading across this country. And I had to grow, to change.
THIS WEEKEND IS ALSO the final retreat with our learning community of Faith Practices & Neighboring Practices (FPNP). The FPNP team has been grieving in their own ways: Director Nick Tangen is grumbling about (and avoiding) the sadness he obviously feels. (Nick, if you’re reading this, we all know you’re sad, it’s okay.) Pastor John Hulden, projecting excitement, always is looking forward to the next thing.
Like spring, though, I find myself somewhere in between. I’m sad to no longer see these cohorts on a regular basis, sad that our time gliding closely alongside them is coming to an end. However, I find myself quite excited for what comes next. A new group of congregations, a different energy, and a renewed curriculum for new personalities will challenge us in new ways.
And just like that, it will be on to the next. Our Groundswell Learning Summit is on June 3, so preparations are underway. It’s a sort of spring awakening. As one thing ends, another thing begins. (If you’re someone who has not yet participated in the cohort, and are interested in attending the Summit, please click here for information.)
“I’m sad to no longer see these cohorts on a regular basis, sad that our time gliding closely alongside them is coming to an end. However, I find myself quite excited for what comes next.”
This learning community that we’ve been a part of for the past two years has been an utter privilege and joy, and I’m so happy that I got to meet all of the people involved. I thank every member of this community, watching them learn and grow, talking with them about their successes and failures. And to our applicants for the next cohort, a new adventure awaits you. It will be long; but I assure you, it will fly by. I hope that you will have as much fun and find as much inspiration as our previous learning community did.
Spring has sprung, and that means we must start looking ahead. Thank God for that.